Automobile lighting system



F. M. HARRIS Oct. 4, 1938.

AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING SYS TEM Filed Nov. 6, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ...a M m 5 4. m .of l w F 7 Y l \/m n w my@ w om .1 4\ a vD W y@ 5 al Q w w ./OJ 0 C E M O H q ,A

INVENTOR.

F. M. HARRIS Oct. 4, 1938.

AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 6, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR.

F. M. HARRIS Oct. 4, 1938.

AUTOMOBILE LIGHTI NG SYSTEM 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 6, 1933 WM w My oct. 4, 1938. F Ml HARRIS 2,131,888

AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 6, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 `INVENTOR.

Oct. 4, 1938. F- M HARRIS 2,131,888

AUTOMOBILE LIGHTING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 6, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 lfyly. i 171915. 25

515. sa 29a a7 5,3 535 I NVEN TOR.

Patented Oct. 4, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates 'to vehicle lighting systems and particularly to a system for eliminating or reducing the glare from the headlights oi' approaching vehicles. I

Many devices and systems have been proposed for reducing the glare of automobile headlights. 'Ihe use of suitable lenses has been a partial solution of the problem but present day headlights still cause too much glare. The problem has been attacked from a different angle by utilizing polarized light in one case and by utilizing colored lights and light illI ers in another case.

In the case of polarized light, it is dimcult to get a suitable source of polarized light and it is even more diilicult to get a suitable analyzing device for the driver to look through. 'I'he use of colored lights apparently is not feasible both because of the diiiculty of getting a satisfactory light source and because of the expense and ineillciency of light lters.

It is, accordingly. an object of my invention to provide an improved automobile lighting system which will overcome the above-mentioned dimculties.

More specically, it is an object of my invention to provide an automobile lighting system which will eliminate or reduce glare from an approaching car and, at the same time provide suitable illumination for the driver of the automobile equipped wiih the system.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a non-glare lighting system for automobiles which is rugged and efficient in operation.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide an improved system for maintaining moving parts in synchronism.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide improved shutters which may be used in my lighting system.

In one embodiment of my invention I provide an automobile with a shutter through which the driver of the automobile will view the roadway. The shutter is operated at a high speed such that it opens and closes at a raie above persistency of vision, 30 times per second, for example. The automobile is also provided with a headlight or headlights which may be ashed on and oiI at a rate above the persistency of vision in synchronism withthe opening and closing of the shutter.

When the shutter is open, the headlight is ilashed on; when the shutter is closed, the headlight is off.

By employing such a system on each of two approaching automobiles, and by having the two systems so synchronized that when the headlight of one car is on (and its shutter open) (he shutter of the other car is closed, each driver will be unable to see the headlights of the approaching car ralthough he will be able to. see the roadway 5 lighted by his own headlights.

In accordance with another embodiment of my invenfion, I provide an automobile with a shutter and a'flashing headlight, as above described, and so design the shutter that it is closed a large percentage oi' its cycle of operation whereby the conventional headlight on' an approaching automobile is materially dimmed. 'I'he ashing headlight is ilashed on for only a small fraction of the cycle of operation of the shutter at the time the shutter is substantially completely open. In this embodiment of my invention there is no necessity for providing all automobiles with the same type of lighing system and, consequently, there is no problem of synchronizing the lighting systems o! approaching automobiles.

Other objects, features and advantages of my invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with he accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an automobile lighting system embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of the apparatus with which each automobile shown in Fig. 1 is equipped:

Fig. 3 is an end view of the shutter and motor shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of apparatus which may be substituted for the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of`a traffic control system for use with my improved lighting system;

Figs. 6 and 6a are views of another embodiment of my invention;

Figs. 'I and 7a are views of a still further embodiment of my inven'ion;

Fig. 8 is a view of a still further embodiment of my invention; l

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an improved vapor lamp and relay especially adapted for use in my invention;

Fig. 10 is a view of one'preferred form of shutter showing how it is preferably mounted on the automobile;

Fig. 1l is a front view of the shutter shown in Fig. l0, showing one way of balancing it;

Fig. lla is a side view of the shutter shown in Fig. 11;

Fig. 12 is a iront view of mother form of shutter embodying y invention;

Fig. 1261s aside viewofiheshuttershownin Fig. 12;

Fig. 13 is a side viewof snotherformotshut ter embodying my invention;

Flg. 13a is a front view of' the shuttery shown in Fig. 13;

Fig. 141s a view showing still another form, o( shutter embodying my invention. and also showing a preferred way of installing it in an` auto-y mobile;

Fig.15isasideviewshowingamodinedform of the shutter shown in Fig.l 14;

Fig. 15a is afront viewof theshuttershownin Fig. 15;

Fig. 16 is a side view of another formr of the shutter shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16a is a view looking in the direction of\ the arrows XVI-XVI in Fig. 16:

Fig. 17 is a view looking from the driver's seat toward the front of the automobili showing a guard arrangement for a shutter utilised in my invention;

Fig. 18 is a circuit and schematic. diagram. in cluding a side view of a brake, of a control circuit for a lighting system embodying my invention; and

Fig. 19 is a front view of the brake shown` in Fig. 18.

Referring to Fig. l, two approaching automobiles are indicated by the dotted lines i and 3,

respectively. Automobile I is equipped with a shutter 5 mounted at the windshield 1 for periodi# cally interrupting Athe driver's view of the road. In the example illustrated, the shutter 5 is in the form of a half disc whichk is mounted upon 'the shaft of a synchronous motor 0 and suitably counterbalanced.

In place of the conventional headlight which gives a continuous light, a headlight Il is provided which may be flashed in synchronism with the opening and closing of the shutter 5. For example, the usual tungsten lamp may be replaced by any suitable gas lamp such as a mercury vapor lamp, a neon lamp or a sodium-vapor lamp indicated at I3.

The synchronous motor 9 and lamp Il are con nected to the output circuit of a speciallyl designed radio receiver I5 which will be described in detail in connection with Fig. 2.

The input circuit of the radio receiver l5 is connected between a ground and an antenna I1 installed in the automobile.

synchronizing energy is supplied to the radio receiver from one of the radio transmitters in the transmitting system indicated generally at i5. This transmitting system will be described hereinafter.

Automobile 3 ls equipped with a shutter and headlight flashing system which is identical with the system installed in automobile I. It comprises a shutter ZI driven by a synchronous motor 23, a headlight 25, including a lamp 2! which may be flashed, and a radio receiver Z1 to the output circuit of which the motor 21 and the lamp 2! of the headlight 25 are connected.

In operation, the shutter 5 on automobile` I is closed when the shutter 2l on automobile 3 is open, as indicated on the drawings. Also, the headlight of an automobile is flashed on. only when the shutter of that automobile is open. Since the headlight is flashed on at a rate above persistency of vision, thirty times per second for example, it will appear to be on continuously.

annoso Thus, at the instant of operation assumed in Hg.1.thedriverofautomobilelseesthelight mppliedbyhishesdlight2l,theshutter2i being Oven. He does not see the'headlight il of spproaching automobile i. however. because at that instsnttheheadlight II isdark. Thedriverof automollle I doesnotseetheheadlightllofthe spprosehingautomobiielbecausehisviewisobstructed by the shutter l.

Inordertooperatetheshutrsandhesdlights in synehronism in the manner described above. the radio transmitting system Il is provided which includes transmitters A and B of sumcient power to control the lighting systems of automobile: operating within a given area.

Transmitter A comprises an omllator Il for generating a carrier wave having a frequency fs, the oscillator being coupled to an antenna u. The input circuit of the oscillator is connected to the modulator il, the input circuit of which is connected to a line 31 for supplying a modulating current to the transmitter.

Transmitter B comprises an oscillator Il coupled to an antenna Il and designed to generate a carrier wave having a frequency l1. The input circuit of the oscillator 39 is connected to the output circuit of a modulator The input circuit of the modulator 43 is connected to the line 3T through a phase shifter ll which introduces a phase shift of degrees in the modulatingl current.

In the example assumed, where the headlight is flashed 30 times a second, a modulating current having a frequency of 30 cycles per second is suppliedto the line I1 from any suitable source 46. A convenient way to obtain a 30 cycle supply is to pass the60 cycle current of a power line through a multivibrator or the like so that the 30 cycle sub-multiple frequency can be selected from the multivibrator output.

In operation, the transmitter A will radiate a carrier wave oiAV the frequency fz modulated by a 30 cycle current; the transmitter B will radiate a carrier wave of the frequency f1 modulated by a 30 cycle current which is 180 degrees out of phase with the modulating current for transmitter A.

To understand how the radio transmitting system I! controls the lighting of automobiles, consider a group of automobiles, including automobiles I and I. travelling upon a certain highway, some going in one direction, and some in the opposite direction. Let us assume that automobile I is travelling ,north and that automobile 3 is travelling south, all automobiles on the highway being equipped with lighting systems the same as automobiles I and I.

The receiver I5 of automobile I is tuned to the carrier wave of frequency f1 and is, therefore, controlled by station B. 'Ihe receiver demodulates the carrier wave f1 to supply 30 cycle current to the lamp I3 and the synchronous motor 5 as will be more fully explained later. All automobiles travelling in-the same direction as automobile i have their receivers tuned to carrier wave l1 whereby their shutters and lights operate in synchronism, all shutters being open at the same instant, and all lights being on at the same instant- As to automobile l, and all other automobiles travelling in the same direction as automobile 3, the receiver 21 istuned to carrier wave l: whereby the shutters and headlights of these automobiles are controlled by transmitter A. Thus all automobiles travelling in the same direction as 7s automobile 3 have their shutters and lights operating in synchronism.

Since the 30 cycle current supplied to automobile 3 is 180 degrees out of phase with the 30 cycle current supplied to automobile I, the light of the one car will be of! when the light of the other car is on. This will be more clearly understood by referring to Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 shows the receiver I5 of automobile I and the manner in which the lamp and shutter motor may be connected to it. It will be understood that the receiver 21 for automobile 3 may be, and preferably is, identical with the one shown in Fig. 2.

The receiver comprises a detector l1 having an input circuit coupled to the antenna I1 through a transformer 5|. 'I'he detector input circuit may be tuned to either carrier wave frequency f1 or carrier wave frequency In by connecting either tuning condenser 53 or tuning condenser 55 across the secondary of transformer 5I by means of a switch 51.

The 30 cycle modulation of the carrier wave will appear in the output circuit of the detector 41 and will be fed tothe input circuit of an audio frequency amplifier 59, preferably tuned to 30 cycles by a condenser 5I. Instead of connecting the output circuit of the amplifier 59 directly to the synchronous motor 3 which drives the shutter 5, a gas tube relay 53 is preferably connected` between the amplifier 59 and the motor in order to supply the motor with more power than can be readily obtained from a conventional audio frequency amplifier.

The relay 63 may be of the 'Ihyratron or grid glow tube type having a cathode 65, an anode 61 and a control electrode 59. The control grid 69 and cathode 65 are connected to the output terminals of a transformer 63 in the output circuit of amplifier 59. The anode 61 is supplied with a suitable positive potential from a suitable source of power such as a battery 1I, the connection from the battery 1I to the anode 61 being through the primary winding of a transformer 13.

A condenser 15 is connected between the cathode 65 and the anode 51 for extinguishing the ldischarge through the relay tube 63 an instant after a discharge has been initiated by a positive potential appearing on the contro' electrode 69.

The action of the relay tube 63 is as follows: Since a 30 cycle voltage is being impressed upon the relay input electrodes 65 and 69, the control electrode 69 becomes positive 30 times a second. The voltage applied to the anode 61 is such that a current flow through the relay tube is initiated only at the times the control electrode 69 becomes positive, but once initiated, the current i'low continues until the voltage between the cathode 55 and the anode 61 is reduced considerably in value. The condenser 15 is for the purpose of causing this reduction in voltage.

'I'he instant the control electrode 69 becomes positive, a pulse of current flows through the primary winding of transformer 13. The current flow is stopped almost immediately, however, because the condenser 15 discharges through the relay tube as soon as the relay discharge starts with the result that for an instant the 'condenser 15 puts substantially a short circuit across the tube cathode and anode. It will be understood that any other suitable means may be employed for stopping the discharge, such as a relay for opening the plate circuit.

Thus, 30 cycle pulses of current are supplied to the transformer 13, the energy being supplied by the battery 1I and being controlled by the incoming radio energy.

The secondary of the transformer 13 is tuned to 30 cycles by a condenser 11 so that the secondary winding and condenser form a tank circuit which causes the 30 cycle pulses to assume the form of a 30 cycle sinusoidal current which is supplied to the synchronous motor 3.

The automobile headlight indicated at II comprises the lamp I3 positioned inside a headlight reflector 19. This lamp may be of any type which can be flashed on and of! rapidly, such as a mercury vapor lamp, a neon lamp, a sodium-vapor lamp, a lamp containing a mixtureof gases or vapors, or a tungsten filament lamp having a thin filament. A gas or vapor lamp is illustrated.

A relay 3l controlled by the radio receiver I5 connects a source of power, such as a battery 33, to the lamp I3 at the rate of 30 times a second.

The winding 35 of the relay BI is included in the anode circuit of a gas tube relay 31, the anode 39 and cathode 9| of which are connected across the battery 1I. 'I'he control electrode 93 and the cathode 9I of the relay tube 81 are connected to the output terminals of the transformer 53. As in the case of relay tube 63, a. condenser is connected between the anode 39 and cathode 9I for extinguishing the electric discharge after each positive impulse applied to the electrode 93. u It will be apparent that the gas tube relay 81 will supply 30 pulses per second to the relay BI whereby the lamp I3 is flashed 30 times per second.

By using the proper type of gas tube relay, the relay tube 31 may be utilized as the headlight lamp, the relayi and the lamp I3 being omitted. In this case the relay tube 81 is placed in a headlight reflector. A gas tube relay may be used as a lamp since the flow of current in the relay is lue toan ionized gas discharge which produces ight.

The shutters on the automobiles I and 3 may be of the construction shown in Fig. 3, this being a front view of the schutter 5. It comprises a half disc 5a which is preferably statically and dynamically balanced by means of a weight 56. When the disc is in the position shown, the shutter is open and the driver of the automobile can look over the top of the motor 9 and see the road.

Obviously, by employing a synchronous motor which runs at 1800 R. P. M. (30 R. P. S.) on 30 cycles, it may be so synchronized with the headlight lamp that the lamp is flashed on when the shutter is open. It will be apparent that such a motor is a two pole motor.

From the above description, it will be apparent that the headlights of all cars going in the same direction flash on at the same instant. In the example mentioned, at a given instant the lights of cars going north will flash on, the shutters on these cars being open and the shutters on the cars going south being closed; an instant later the lights on cars going south will flash on, the shutters on these cars being open and the shutters of the approaching cars being closed.

In Fig. 4, there is shown another type of shutter which may be employed in place of the rotating shutter shown in the preceding figures. In Figs. 2 and 4, like parts are indicated by the same reference numerals. The circuit of Fig. 2 which operates the relay is indicated generally in Fig.l 4 by the reference numeral I5. A solenoid 75 winding 99 for operating a shutter |0| is shown connected in parallel with a relay winding |03 for ilashing the headlight both windings being connected to the output of the transformer 13 in the receiver.

The view of the shutter in Fig. 4 is a top view. The shutter comprises a plurality of nat strips pivoted at the points |01 to act as shutter vanes. They are pivotally connected to a bar |09 which is operated by the solenoid winding 99. A spring holds'the shutter open as shown when no current is flowing through the solenoid winding 99.

Rectifiers ||3 and ||5 are preferably connected in series with the windings 99 and |03, respectively, to cause uni-directional current pulses to flow therethrough. While they may be so connected that current pulses are applied alternately to the two windings, they are preferably connected as illustrated, the inertia of the shutter being relied upon to keep the shutter open while the light is on.

In operation, a positive half cycle of an incom ing synchronizing signal causes a pulse current to flow through the relay and solenoid windings |03 and 99, respectively. This flashes the lamp I3 and closes the shutter ||J| an instant later, the inertia of the shutter causing it to remain substantially completely open during the period of the light flash which is preferably very short, one five-hundredths of a second, for example. It will be noted that shutter |0| is closed when the vanes |05 have been turned through an angle indicated by the dotted line |06.

It will be understood that instead of flashing the lamp I3, it may be lighted continuously and the headlights II flashed by means of a. shutter, similar to the shutter I0 I, placed in front of headlight and actuated by the relay |03.

In Fig. 5, a traffic circle is indicated schematically, together with a plurality of traffic signal lamps A and B. In order to inform the driver of an automobile equipped with the above-described lighting whether his lights are being flashed under the control of the correct radio station, the traiiic lights A are flashed under the control of radio transmitter A (Fig. 1) in synchronism with the automobile headlights under the control of transmitter A, while the traffic lights B are flashed under the control of transmitter B (Fig. l). The trafilc lights A and B may be operated by means of a circuit such as shown in Fig. 2.

Assume an automobile equipped with my improved lighting system is travelling from east to west. that is, travelling in the traffic lane |08 towards the trafiic circle and the signal lamp I I0. According to a prearranged system, this automobile is supposed to have its headlights controlled by radio station B (Fig. l), while the lights of automobiles travelling in the opposite directions are supposed to be controlled by station A. If the lights of the automobile travelling west are controlled by the correct radio station, the driver of that automobile will not see the signal lamp ||0. However, if they are under the control of the Wrong radio station, the driver will see signal I|0 and be warned to switch the headlight control to the other radio station. This will be done by moving switch 51 (Fig. 2) to the other position.

If the driver makes a right-hand turn, his headlights will still be controlled by the correct radio station, assuming they were properly controlled during the travel east to west. If a lefthand turn is made. a signal lamp under the control of station B will warn the driver to switch the headlight control to the other radio station.

In Fig. 6, there is illustrated an embodiment of my invention which does not require that the headlights of automobile systems be synchronized. Whereas the system previously described will make the headlight of an approaching automobile invisible, the system described below will dim the headlight of an approaching automobile. Just as in the first system, however, it will provide the driver of an automobile with the same amount of illumination as that provided by a conventional lighting system and it will not cause any more glare than does the usual headlight. Therefore, it is a lighting system which can be applied to any automobile without regard to the lighting system used by other automobiles.

Referring to Fig. 6, the headlight reflector and the windshield of an automobile are indicated at |I1 and |I9, respectively. A shutter |2|, which may be identical with the one shown in Fig. 3, is fastened to the shaft of an electric motor |23 and positioned close to the windshield I I9. When the shutter |2| is rotated. it sweeps past the windshield to interrupt the driver's view of the road periodically.

The motor |23 may be oi any suitable type, but is preferably a 6 volt direct current motor which may be run at approximately 1800 R. P. M. when connected to the 6 volt automobile battery indicated at |25.

The headlight lamp |21 may be any of the types previously mentioned which can be flashed at the instant the shutter |2I is open. The lamp |21 preferably is flashed by discharging a condenser |29 through it. The condenser |29 may be charged from a source of voltage such as a battery |3| connected across the condenser through a variable resistor |33. By adjusting the resistor |33, the rate at which the condenser |29 is charged may be controlled.

The lamp |21 is connected across the condenser |29 each time the shutter |2| opens by means of a relay |35. The relay |35 comprises an armature |31, a contact point |39 and a relay coil |4 I the relay coil |4| being connected through a battery |43 to two contact points |45 which cooperate with a switch segment |46 mounted upon the motor shaft.

When the relay |35 is actuated, the lamp |21 is connected to the condenser |29 through a variable resistor |41 and the relay armature |31 and contact point |39. The rate of condenser discharge is preferably made very rapid, much more rapid than the condenser charging rate, and it may be adjusted by adjusting the resistor |41.

By referring to Fig. 6a, it will be seen that the switch segment |48 and contact points |45 are so located that the relay |35 is operated at the instant the shutter is open. In case there is an appreciable time lag in the relay operation, the position of the contact points (or switch segment) may be adjusted to compensate for the time lag.

The switch segment |46'c`loses the contacts |45 for only a small fraction of a rotation of the shutter disc so that the relay winding 4| is given a pulse of current to close the lamp circuit also for only a. small fraction of a rotation of the shutter disc |2|. 'I'he armature |31 is biased so that it opens the lamp circuit at the end of the pulse of current.

With.y the above-described circuit adjustment, the lamp I 21 may be lighted only $50 of the time be charging the condenser |20 the rest of the time. Therefore, the current source isv not required to supply a large amount of energy at short intervals.

In the example assumed where the headlight is on only Mw of the time, it will be apparent that, in order to give the headlight the same brilliancy as a headlight on continuously, it must be 30 times as bright while it is on as the headlight on continuously. 'Ihis is the preferred adjustment of the system as the driver will want as much illumination from his headlight as the automobile laws permit. It will be understood, .of course, that the light is flashed at a rate at least equal to that of persistency of vision so that it appears to be a constant light. Thus, the driver of an approaching car will not be aware that the hashing headlight he sees is any diierent than the usual headlight. Ii a motor is used which runs the shutter at 1800 R. P. M., the light will be hashed 30 times per second which is well above the rate for persistency of vision.

With regard to the intensity of the light emitted by the hashing lamp, in practice, the permissible duration oi a light pulse will bedetermined in a manner hereinafter described; the frequency of the pulses will then be made high enough to avoid objectionable flicker, and, hnally, the intensity of the light pulses will be made such that apparent intensity of the headlight is the same as a standard headlight approved by the automobile laws.

When utilizing a shutter which consists of a half disc, the headlight of an approaching or oncoming automobile will appear to a person looking through the shutter to be dimmed onehalf, assuming the approaching headlight is of the conventional type where the light is on continuously. That this is true, is evident from the fact that the rotating half disc intercepts the glare producing light one-half of the time so that only one-half as much light from the oncoming headlight reaches the driver's eyes as when no shutter is employed.

In case the approaching automobile also is equipped with hashing headlights, since there is no attempt to synchronize the headlights on the two automobiles, the driver will see the approaching headlights gradually increasing and decreasing in brilliancy.

In Fig. 7, there is shown a modihed form of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 6. In the two hgures like parts are indicated by the same reference numerals. The distinctions between the two systems are that in Fig. 'I the headlight lamp |49 is a gas or vapor lamp having a grid control such as a grid glow tube or, preferably, a sodium vapor lamp provided with a control grid (such as shown in Fig. 9), and that the condenser |29 is charged by means of a vibrator unit |5| which converts the 6 volt output of a storage battery |53 to alternating current, steps up the voltage, and then rectihes it to a high voltage direct current.

It will be noted that power for the complete lighting systemis supplied by the 6 volt battery |53, the motor |23 and the input circuit of the vibrator unit |5| being connected in parallel to the battery. The vibrator unit ISI, which may be of the type commonly used in automobile radio receivers, has its output terminals connected across the condenser |29 through the variable resistor |33 for controlling the condenser charging rate as inY Fig. 6.

The cathode |55 and anode |51 of the lamp are connected across the condenser |24 through the resistor |41 Iorcontrolling the discharging rate of the condenser through the lamp, and. as in Fig. 6, the discharging rate is adjusted to be very short compared with the charging rate. This adjustment is especially important when employing the vibrator unit ISI as it permits the use of a vibrator unit with a low current rating.

The control grid island cathode |55 are connected to the switch contact points |45 through conductors ISI and |63 so that when the shutter |2| reaches its open position the control grid is connected to the cathode and the condenser |29 discharges through the lamp |49. This lowers the condenser voltage to a value insuihcient to maintain the discharge and the lamp is extinguished. By the time the switch segment |46 has made another rotation to again make contact with the switch points |45, the condenser |29 has again been charged to full voltage and the operation is repeated.

The position of the shutter disc |2| in Fig. 7 is shown more clearly in Fig. '7o. In this position the shutter is closing and the condenser is being charged for again hashing the lamp.

In order to provide a headlight which gives suhcient illumination, it is desirable that the hash of the lamp be long enough to make the length of time the lamp is actually lighted a reasonable percentage of the total time. II the lamp is on 1,5m of the time, as previously suggested, the intensity of light required for each hash is not unreasonable. Although the shutter is completely open only at the time the straight edge of the shutter disc |2| is horizontal, as shown in Fig. 6a, it is open for all practical purposes while the straight edge is rotating through approximately 6 degrees each side of this position, or through a total of 12 degrees.

While the shutter disc |2| is rotating through the above-mentioned 12 degrees, the light from lamp |49 (or lamp |21) may be on and a driver looking through the shutter will get the full beneht of his own headlight. It will be evident that by having the light on during 12 degrees rotation of the shutter, it is on 1%60 or o of a complete rotation. If the shutter rotates 30 times per second, the duration of a light hash is then Vm times if of a second or 1,600 of a second. By adjusting the variable resistor |41, the discharging rate of the condenser can readily be made such that the light hash will last just 1,4300 of a second.

Any suitable contact making device may be `substituted for the switch segment |46 and contact points or brushes |45. For example, a cam |65 may be fastened on the motor shaft, as shown in Fig. 8, for periodically closing a switch |61. The switch |61 may comprise two spring arms |69 and |1| having contact points mounted on their free ends.

The lamp hashing circuit which is illustrated in Fig. 8 is the same as the one shown in Fig. 6, like parts in the two hgures being indicated by the same reference numerals.

A sodium vapor lamp |13 is shown as the headlight lamp. This lamp comprises a glass envelope which contains sodium vapor and which is enclosed by a double walled evacuated glass shell |15 (generally referred to as a Dewar hask) for preventing the envelope from cooling off Suhlciently to prevent the maintenance of the proper vapor pressure.

The envelope contains a cathode |11 which is heated by a battery |19. The lamp anode consists oi two plates |8| placed on opposite sides of the cathode |11. They are both connected to one terminal of the condenser |29 through a conductor |83. If desired, only one anode plate may be employed. It will be understood that a current limiting resistor may be connected in series with lamp |13.

' Where a grid controlled lamp is utilized as in Fig. '1, a switching device may be employed which does not require mechanical contact of the switch parts. For example, the lamp circuit may be so adjusted that the lamp will flash if a certain amount of capacity is inserted between the control grid |59 and cathode |55. One way of inserting this capacity periodically is to replace the contact points by small condenser plates so positioned that the segment |45 will rotate to a position close to but not in contact with them. When segment |46 rotates to this position, the capacity between the grid and cathode will be increased and the lamp will flash.

In Fig. 9 there is illustrated a grid controlled sodium lamp especially adapted for use in my lighting system. It comprises an envelope containing sodium vapor and consisting of a metal section |85 sealed to a glass section or window |81. The metal to glass seal may be the same type of seal used in water-cooled radio transmitter tubes.

An anode |89 consisting of a metal wire or rod is centrally positioned in the envelope and supported by being sealed into the glass section |81.

The metal section |85 itself functions as the lamp cathode. If a hot-cathode type of lamp is desired, the inner surface of the metal section adjacent to the anode may be coated by any Well known electron emitting material, such as a barium oxide paste. as indicated at |9|.

The lamp is provided with a heater coil |93 encircling the metal section |85 for the purpose of keeping the lamp sufficiently hot to maintain the proper sodium vapor pressure in the envelope. In case an electron emitting coating is utilized, the heater coil |93 also maintains the cathode at an electron emitting temperature.

In order to conserve the heat from the heater coil |93 for keeping the lamp envelope at the desired temperature, the metal section of the envelope is covered with a heat insulating material |95 and the glass section of the envelope is enclosed by a double-Walled evacuated glass shell or Dewar flask |91 which abuts the heat insulating material |95.

The control grid |99 consists of a cylinder of wire mesh which surrounds the anode |89 and is properly spaced therefrom in accordance with well known theory. The mesh cylinder |99 is supported by a rod 20| sealed in the glass section |81 oi the envelope.

If a grid controlled lamp is not desired, the control electrode may be omitted and the lamp used as a two electrode sodium lamp.

In addition to acting as a cathode and as a portion of the envelope, the metal section |85 also acts as a reflector whereby practically all the light of the sodium vapor discharge passes through the glass window |81. The section |85 is preferably either parabolic or semispherical in shape and is provided with a highly polished interior surface.

The above-described grid controlled sodium vapor lamp may be utilized in the circuit shown in Fig. 7, the vibrator unit I5| being designed to deliver a suitable output voltage for a sodium vapor lamp. Since sodium vapor has a low ionization potential. it may be desirable in some cases to omit the vibrator unit entirely and connect the condenser and resistor directly to a storage battery.

In Figs. 10, l1 and 11a, there is illustrated a shutter which may be employed in place of the shutter shown in Fig. 3. It consists of a disc 205 which has approximately a 120 degree segment cut out. This provides a shutter that will dim approaching headlights two-thirds and it also permits proper counterbalancing of the disc.

As indicated in Figs. 11 and 11a, the portions of the disc near the edges of the 120 degree opening are made thicker and heavier than the main part of the disc. The entire lower half of the disc may be made as light and thin as consistent with the necessary rigidity, or the center of gravity of the lower half may be brought nearer to the shaft by increasing the thickness of the disc along a line just below the center of the disc as indicated at 201. This structure permits making the center of gravity of the upper half of the disc the same distance from the shaft as the center of gravity of the lower half of the disc as indicated at 209 and 2| I. Then, by making the moments of inertia of the two halves of the disc equal, the shutter will be both statically and dynamically balanced.

When employing the shutter just described, it is preferable to make the duration of a light ash shorter and the light correspondingly more intense than specified in connection with the halfdisc shutter, so that the light will be on only when the shutter is in substantially the position shown in Fig. 10. It will be noted that with the shutter mounted as illustrated, the two disc segments of the upper half of the disc do not obstruct the view of the driver since the right-hand segment intercepts a line of view which is ordinarily intercepted by the engine hood 2|3 while the lefthand segment is in the lower left-hand corner of the windshield-2|5 through which the driver does not ordinarily look.`

Figs. 12 and 12a showa shutter disc made in two sections 2|1 and 2I9 which may be locked in position by a thumb nut 22| when the shutter is to be used at night. When the shutter is not in use. the thumb nut is loosened and the two sections are rotated to increase the angle of the shutter opening whereby the driver is given a perfectly unobstructed view for daylight driving. This structure permits the use of a smaller shutter opening than otherwise permissible and a greater dimming of approaching headlights.

In Figs. 13, 14, 15 and 16 there are shown several Iorms of shutters which may be substituted for the single-disc type of shutter previously described. These shutters, which include two rotating shutter discs or disc segments, are a pre- Ierred type of shutter because they are closed at least three-fourths of the time whereby at least three-fourths of the glare of an approaching headlight is eliminated. I

Referring to Figs. 13 and 13a, the shutter comprises two half discs 223 and 225. The disc 225 is fastened to the motor shaft so that it rotates at the speed of the motor. The disc 223 is concentrically mounted on the motor shaft and driven by the motor through a gear train which includes a gear 221 fastened to the motor shaft which gear engages a gear 229 on a countershaft. Another gear 23| on the countershaft engages a gear 230 on the hollow shaft of the disc 223 and drives the disc 222 in the same direction as the disc 225 but'at one-half the speed. For example, if the jmotorhasaspeed of3|i0|)R..l?.M., thedisc223 will be rotated at 1800 R. P. M.

'This shutter, as well as the shutters described hereinafter, is preferably mounted adjacent to 5 the automobile windshield in the same manner as the previously described single-disc shutters. Also, a switch on the shutter shaft causes the automobile headlight to ash when the shutter is open as previously described. It will be understood that the shutter is completely open when the half discs are facing each other on the same side of the shutter shaft.

'I'his is indicated in Fig. 13a where the shutter is shown just beginning to close. It will also be apparent from Fig. 13a that the two discs are so connected to each other through the gears that the shutter opens opposite the windshield indicated'at 235.

The number of times per second that the shutter is open is determined by the lower speed disc. Therefore, if the motor speed is l3600 R. P. M., the shutter opens 30 times per second. If a lower speed motor is used, the geared disc may be made the higher speed disc. Thus, if the motor runs at 1800 R. P. M., the disc which is driven through the gears may be run at 3600 R. P. M.

That the shutter is closed three-fourths of the time will be seen by considering each quarter rotation of the slower disc. Starting from the open shutter position and assuming a direction of rotation indicated by the arrows in Fig. 13a, during the first quarter rotation of disc 223, the disc 225 makes a half rotation and completely closes the shutter. During the next quarter rotation of disc 223, theshutter is completely closed by the two shutter discs and the disc 225 has made one complete rotation.

During the third quarter rotation of disc 223, the shutter is still completely closed as the faster disc 225 closes the opening permitted by the slower disc 223, and at the end of this quarter the disc 225 is in its upper position completely closing the shutter. During the last quarter rotation of the disc 223, the shutter is opening and at the end of the quarter the two discs are facing each other in their lower position and the shutter is completely open.

Since the shutter cuts out half the light when closing and half the light when opening, and since the shutter is completely closed for onehalf of a rotation, it cuts' out three-fourths of the light, and correspondingly reduces the glare of headlights.

Referring to Fig. 14, there is shown a shutter comprising two disc segments 231 and 239 (such as the one shown in Fig. 10) which are rotated in opposite directions at the same speed. The disc segments are mounted upon separate shafts which are coaxially mounted. Each shaft has a gear wheel fastened on one end, the two gears facing each other and meshing with a third gear wheel 24| fastened to the shaft of a motor 243. Assuming that thev disc segments are of the shape shown in Fig. 10, this shutter will be closed more 5 than three-fourths of the time.

In Fig. l5 there is shown another shutter comprising two half discs which are rotated in opposite directions at the same The shutter comprises a haii' disc 245 fastened to the shaft of a motor, and a half disc 25| concentrically and rotatably mounted on the motor shaft by mean of a sleeve 253.

The disc 25| is rotated at the same speed as -the disc 245 and in the opposite direction by means of a gear train which includes a gear wheel 255 fastened to the motor shaft and engaging an idler gear 251 supported by a bracket 256. The idler gear engages a gear 25| on a countershaft and the disc 25| is driven by the countershaft through gears 253 and 255.

through the gearing that the shutter is open when the discs are below the shutter shaft so that the shutter opening comes opposite the windshield indicated by the dotted line 251.

Referring to Fig. 16, there is shown a shutter which diii'ers from the one shown in Fig. 15 mainly in that the shafts of the two shutter discs are offset in order to simplify the gearing. The shutter comprises a disc segment 269 fastened on a shaft which, at one end, is journaled in one leg of a U-shaped support 21|. The other end of the shaft is journaled in a supporting arm 213 mounted on the U-shaped support.

The other disc segment 215 is fastened to a shaft mounted above the shaft for disc 269 and journaled in the supporting arm 213 and the other leg of the U-shaped support 21|.

'Ihe discs 269 and 215 are coupled together for synchronous rotation in opposite directions by means of gear wheels fastened to the two shafts.

4The two gear wheels have a one to one ratio so that the two shutter discs rotate at the same speed. It will be apparent that the operation of this shutter is the same as the operation of the shutters shown inFigs. 14 and 15.

The shutter may be driven by a motor through a belt drive, as shown in the` drawings, or one shutter disc may be fastened directly on the motor shaft for direct drive. The shutter is preferably mounted at the same angle to the vertical as the windshield, indicated at 219, in order to conserve space.

Fig. 16a is a view taken on the line I6 in Fig. 16 showing the shape of the shutter discs. By making each disc somewhat more than a full half disc, the shutter will be effectively closed more than three-fourths of the time and thus be more eiective in reducing glare. Also, it permits balancing the discs by 4making the upper edges of a disc thicker than the rest oi' the disc as indicated on the drawings.

It may be noted that the shutters shown in Fig. 13, 14 and 15 may be provided with discs shaped and balanced as shown in Figs. 16 and 16a.

Referring to Fig. 17, there is illustrated one form of guard for the rotating shutter disc or discs. The guard is in two sections, the lower section 211 comprising a grating of parallel bars flxedly mounted opposite the lower part of the shutter disc I 200. The upper section 20| comprises a similar grating of bars pivotally mounted `at the top of the'windshield whereby the guard section 29| may be turned against the roof of the car when the shutter is not in use. Thus, the guard will not obstruct the drivers view even a slight amount during daylight driving.

An interlock switch 283 la provided which prevents power from being supplied to the shutter motor beforey the guard is pulled down into a position opposite the upper part of the shutter disc. 'I'his switch may be located in the circuit of Fig. 7 at the point |50. Y

Referring to Fig. 18, there is shown a control system which causesthe shutter 2l! always to stop in its open position when theheadlights are turned oil. The system also automatically supplies power to the headlight lamp circuit as soon as the motor 291 reaches such a speed that the headlights will flash at or near the rate of persistency of vision whereby the headlights will not have an undesirable flicker when the motoris first started.

Power may be supplied to the shutter motor 281, after the shutter interlock switch 203 has been closed, by moving the starting switch 239 to the left-hand position.

Two governor balls 29| and 293, each fastened to one end of a flat exible spring, are`mounted upon the motor shaft diametrically opposite each other. The governor ball 29| is electrically connested with the motor shaft and so positioned. that when the shutter is rotating at a slow speed it will make contact with a contact arm 295 supported by an insulating plate 291. This contact is made when the shutter is in the open position,

-as'indicated in the drawings, and, as soon as the contact is made, a magnetic brake 299 is energized.

The brake 299 comprises a U-shaped core 30| having an armature 303 of magnetic material fastened to one leg of the core and extending to a point opposite and spaced away from theother leg of the core. A disc or vane, which may be the shutter disc 285 itself, as shown in the drawings, extends between the armature 303 and the core 30| when the shutter is in its open position.

The core is provided with a winding 305 for energizing the brake, one end of the coil being connected to a terminal of the battery 301 while the other end of the coil is connected to the frame of the motor and the motor shaft through ground.

The brake 299 is preferably flexibly mounted, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19, in order to minimize the shock caused by the brake suddenly stopping the shutter. Such a mounting may be obtained by pivotally mounting the lower leg of the core 30| on a supporting member 309. The core is heldin a central position by means of two springs 3|| and 3|3 on opposite sides of the core, each fastened at one endto the core and at the other end to a support. 1

When it is desired to stop the shutter 235, the starting switch 289 is thrown to the right-hand position. This takes power oi! the motor and closes the brake circuit at one point. As the shutter 285 slows down, the governor ball 29| moves closer to the motor shaft until, when the shutter speed is low enough to permit application of the magnetic brake, the ball 29| (or its supporting spring) 'iakes contact with the contact arm 295 and the brake is instantly energized.

Energization of the brake pulls the armature 303 toward the end of the core leg whereby the shutter disc I2li is Vclamped so firmly between amature and core that but little, if any, slippage is permitted between the disc and the brake. The nexible brake mounting, however, permits the brake to swing with the shutter movement until the disc stops. The brake and shutter are then pulled back to the central position by one of the springs 3|| and III.

In order to make the brake more effective, assuming the shutter disc is `of non-magnetic material, an insert of magnetic'material may be placed in the shutter disc at a point where it will be between the armature and the core when the brake is energized.

It will be noted that the brake is released when the starting switch 299 is moved to the left-hand or starting position.

Referring, now, to the centrifugal switch control of the headlight, the governor ball 293 is insulated from the motor shaft and so mounted with respect to a contact member 3|5 that, when the shutter reaches a speed such that it will flash the headlight at a rate above persistency of vision. the governor ball 293 (or its supporting spring) will make contact with the contact member 3|5 thereby connecting the power supply to the lamp dashing condenser |29 (Fig. 7).

The switch consisting of governor ball 293 and contact 3|! may be inserted in the circuit of Fig. 7 at the point |90.

The governor ball 293 is connected to one of the power supply conductors 3|1 through a ring 3|9 and brush 32|, while the contact member 3|5 is connected to the other conductor 323 through a ring 325 and brush 321.

The switch which makes the headlight flash in synchronism with the opening of the shutter is indicated at 329.

Various other modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are necessitated by the prior art and set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a vehicle, a windshield, a shutter comprising two disc segments which have poor light transmitting ability, means for rotatably mounting said discs with their axes positioned close together and with said axes located near the bottom r of said windshield, and means for rotating said disc segments in opposite directions at the same speed.

2. In a vehicle, a windshield, a shutter comprising two disc segments which have poor lighttransmitting ability, means for rotatably mounting said disc segments with their axes located near the bottom of said windshield, means for so rotating said disc segments in a fixed time relation with respect to each other that they periodically assume a position facing each other at substantially their lowest position during a rotation whereby the shutter is opened to permit an unobstructed view through said windshield.

3. A lighting system for two approaching vehicles travelling in opposite directions, each vehicle having a headlight and having a shutter positioned to intercept the view of the driver of the vehicle periodically, means including a radio receiver in each of said vehicles and a radio transmitter for flashing said headlights alternately at a rate at least equal to that of persistency of vision, and means for alternately closing said shutters in such time relation with the flashing of said headlights that the shutter of one vehicle is aisance open wnen'tne neediignt of seid vehicle u lighted and the headlight of thel other vehicle is dark.

4. In a vehicle lighting system, means comprising a rotatable shutter for mtercepting the view of the driver of the vehicle periodically at a rate at least equal to that of persistency of vision, means on said vehicle for lighting the roadway only in response to said shutter reaching a position where it is not intercepting said view and only for the period said shutter is not intercepting said view, and means for automatically stopping said shutter in its open position in response to said shutter slowing down to a predetermined ing light therefrom, when, and only when, said view is substantially unobstructed.

6. A vehicle lighting system comprising a plurality of opaque disc segments, means for rotatably mounting said segments with their ax`es positioned close together and so located that said mounting means does not obstruct the drivers view of the roadway, means fo'r so rotating said segments in a xed time relation with respect to each other that they periodically interrupt the drivers view of the roadway at a rate at least equal to that of persistency of vision and periodically assume a position facing each other where they do not obstruct said view, and means responsive to the position of said disc segments for. projecting a light periodically from said vehicle upon said roadway during the periods when said segments are not obstructing said view.

7. In a vehicle lighting system, means comprising a rotatable shutter for intercepting the view of the driver of the vehicle periodically at a rate at least equal to that of persistency of vision, means on said vehicle for lighting the roadway only in response to said shutter reaching a position where it is not intercepting said view and only for the period said shutter is not intercepting said view, and means for automatically making said lighting means ineffective in response to said shutter slowing down to a predetermined speed.

8. In a vehicle lighting system, means comprising a rotatable shutter for intere pting the view of the driver of the'vehicle perio cally at a rate at least equal to that of persistency of vision, means on said vehicle for lighting the roadway only in response to said shutter reaching a position where it is not intercepting said view and only for the period ,said shutter is not intercepting said view, and means for automatically stopping said shutter in its open position and making said lightingmeans ineffective in response to said shutter slowing down to a predetermined with respect to one of said disc sectors and coupled thereto. a second bevel gear coaxially mounted with respect `to the other of said disc sectors and coupled thereto, said gears being mounted face to face whereby they may be engaged by a third bevel gear, a shaft extending between said disc sectors and at right angles to their axis, a third bevel gear mounted on the end of said shaft and in engagement with said other gears whereby rotation of said shaft causes said disc sectors to rotate in opposite directions, and means for rotating said disc sectors through said shaft at a rate measured in rotations per second which is at least equal to that of persistency of vision.

10. In a lighting system for a vehicle having a windshield and an instrument panel below said windshield, a shutter comprising two disc sectors, means for rotatably and coaxially mounting said disc sectors in a position where they periodically intercept the drivers view of the road, a bevel gear coaxially mounted with respect to one of said disc sectors and coupled thereto, a second bevel gear coaxially mounted with respect tothe other of said disc sectors and coupled thereto, said gears being mounted fact to face whereby they may be engaged by a third bevel gear, a shaft extending between said disc sectors and at-right angles to their axis, a third bevel gear mounted on the end of said shaft and in engagement with said other gears-whereby rotation of said shaft causes said disc sectors to rotate in opposite directions, the axis of said disc sectors being so located that in their lower position during rotation at least a portion of'said disc sectors are behind said panel, said gears being so meshed that said sectors rotate to a position facing each other when they are in substantially their lowest position during rotation, and means for rotating said disc sectors through said shaft at a rate measured in rotations per second which is at least equal to that of persistency of vision.

11. A lighting system for two approaching vehicles travelling in opposite directions, each vehicle having a headlight and having a rotatable shutter positioned to intercept periodically the view of the driver of the vehicle, each vehicle having a synchronous motor which runs at 1800 R. P. M. on 30 cycles coupled to the shutter on the vehicle, means for ashing the headlight on eachA vehicle each time the shutter on the vehicle opens, means for radiating a carrier wave modulated by a signal having a certain frequency, means for radiating a second carried wave of a different frequency modulated by a signal having said certain frequency and 180 degrees out of phase with said first signal, means on one of said vehicles for receiving, demodulating, and amplifying said irst carrier wave and for driving the synchronous motor on said vehicle by said ampliiled signal, and means on the other of said vehicles for receiving, demodulatng, and amplifying said second carrier wave and for driving the synchronous motor on said other vehicle by said second amplied signal.

12. The invention according to claim l1 characterized in that said certain frequency is at least equal to that of persistence of vision.

13. In a vehicle lighting system, a shutter comprising at least two opaque disc segments, means for so rotatably mounting said segments that they may be rotated to a position facing each other on one side of a horizontal line drawn through the axis of rotation of one of said segments, said mounting means being so positioned that said segments do not obstruct the drivers view of the road when they are in said position facing each other and interrupt said view periodically as they are rotated, means for so rotating said segments that they interrupt said view at a rate at least equal to that of persistency of vision, a headlight mounted on said vehicle, and means for flashing said headlight each time said segments reach a position where said view is not obstructed and only for the period said view is not obstructed whereby said road appears to be continuously illuminated.

14. In a vehicle lighting system, a shutter disc segment occupying at least 180 degrees and having two radial edges, means tor rotatably mounting said segment, said segment being so positioned as to interrupt the drivers view oi' the road periodically as it is rotated, means for rotating said disc segment at a rate measured in rotations per second at least equal to that o! persistency ot vision, a headlight, and means for hashing said headlight once i'or each rotation o1' said disc segment and only for a period during which the angle formed by said radial edges is approximately bisected by a vertical plane through and parallel to the axis of rotation of said disc.

FLOYD M. HARRIS. 

